The Australian apparel retail market is growing by three per cent a year. Volumes in the apparel market are expected to amount to 1,715.60 million pieces by 2027, and the average volume per person in Australian apparel market is expected to amount to over 65 pieces by 2026. Currently that stands at nearly 57 pieces.

In 2021, Australia’s apparel imports were valued at US $ 7.40 billion. The market’s largest segment is women’s apparel. Trousers and shorts were the dominant category in Australia’s total apparel imports during the first half of 2022. They had a 21 per cent share and were followed by jerseys with a 15 per cent share and shirts with a nine per cent share. These three products together accounted for more than 45 per cent of total apparel imports by Australia.

Import of other products were T-shirts (nine per cent), dresses (eight per cent), innerwear (eight per cent), jackets and blazers (five per cent), nightwear (two per cent), baby wear (two per cent) and socks (two per cent).

Australia also exports textiles, most of which are unprocessed commodities. These items are then sold back to the industry from European luxury brands which are based in Italy, France, or Great Britain.